Who is the oldest main line tool maker?

[Teken]

As the title states . . . Of the major vendors of tools (American) who is the oldest of them all, please state the year?

Armstrong, Matco, Mac, Snap-On, etc . . .

 

[Billin21]

Snap on or Cornwell.. Cornwell claims 1919 while I believe Snap On is 1920

 

[Hiball]

The Wright Tool & Forge Company was founded in 1927 in Barberton, Ohio, and still produces tools there using 100% American Steel. There not the oldest but definitely have figured out to stay true to there roots.

 

[Teken]

Armstrong was 1895, starting off making tool holders for lathe cutting bits.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I suppose you're talking mechanic's tools, but:
Stanley has been around since 1843
Disston saws since 1840
Simonds saws since 1832.

 

[Mickey O]

Armstrong was 1895, starting off making tool holders for lathe cutting bits.

That would have been my guess, some Scottish brothers that started out making bicycle parts/tools in a shed behind their house (or something like that, I read the history somewhere, maybe the Armstrong website), they were a family owned company till not to long ago.

 

[Mickey O]

From the Armstrong website:

Armstrong Story
The Armstrong Bros. Tool Co. was founded in 1890 by four brothers, the sons of a Scottish immigrant blacksmith. In the beginning, the company manufactured and distributed bicycle parts, together with tools and equipment people used to manufacture and repair bicycles.
In 1895, as part of their manufacturing program, the brothers introduced lathe tool holders. By 1900 this product showed such promise that the company started devoting full time to manufacturing.
So it was that the company's foundation was built upon the tool holder. These holders replaced the heavy, individually forged cutting tools that until then were necessary for lathe work. With the Armstrong system, a forged permanent shank was used with various shapes of small, interchangeable cutting tools.
As advertised, the Armstrong system did indeed save "all forging and 70% of grinding," and by the mid 1900's the use of forged cutting tools in machine shops was virtually unheard of, replaced instead by the Armstrong System of Tool Holders.
The company's first manufacturing facilities were located in a wooden structure built across the back of two of the brothers' adjoining yards on Edgewood Ave in Chicago, Illinois. At the same time, they also maintained a store in downtown Chicago. In 1900, the brothers decided to devote full time to manufacturing and moved operations to a new plant at 617 Austin Ave.
On April Fools' Day in 1902, the Austin Ave plant burned to the ground. But the company salvaged and re-conditioned its inventory, rebuilt the plant, doubled the floor space, and continued to grow. In 1905, needing still more space, the brothers purchased property at 317 N. Francisco Ave., Chicago, and built a 100,000 square foot, 3-story brick factory. At this point, the company was still involved only in the manufacture of tool holders and related machine tool accessory items.
In 1909, Armstrong introduced a line of drop forged wrenches. From its modest beginning selling bicycle parts, the company launched into a line expansion that's continued to today, almost 100 years later, with a product line which includes nearly 5000 items of mechanic's tools, pipe and tubing tools, machine shop accessories, and cutting tools.
The company remained on Francisco Ave. until 1948, when it moved to its present headquarters at 5200 W. Armstrong Ave. on Chicago's northwest side. Armstrong built a second manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas and began operations there in 1974. To this day, Fayetteville boasts one of the most modern drop forge shops in the world.
In December 1994, after 105 years of private ownership by the Armstrong family, the company was acquired by the Danaher Corporation. Danaher's family of brands includes Allen and K-D Hand Tools, Allen Hex Keys, Holo-Krome Fasteners, Jacobs Chucks, Matco Hand Tools, and JS Technology Torque Tools, among others. The Danaher Commitment to continuous improvement will ensure the strict adherence to the high standards of quality, delivery and cost upon which Armstrong was founded.
Armstrong Tools are still, and will continue to be made in the U.S.A. They are designed and manufactured for professional tool users and continue to be manufactured with uncompromising quality.

 

[Theo]

J.H. Williams 1881 and still in business!

 

[arkangel06]

J.H. Williams 1881 and still in business!

Selling mostly imports...

 

[stricht8]

Did Armstrong also make bicycles?

 

[Teken]

Did Armstrong also make bicycles?

Yes, I believe so way back in the beginning . . .

 

[MAD]

Mayhew Tools™ has been manufacturing Punches and Chisels in the Western Massachusetts town of Shelburne Falls since 1856.

 

[stricht8]

Mayhew Tools™ has been manufacturing Punches and Chisels in the Western Massachusetts town of Shelburne Falls since 1856.

That's cool. I should check out the facility sometime. I wonder if the original factory is still around.

 

[vssjim]

Plomb Proto is over a 100 yeras something like 1907 -08 ish

 

[Bart Simpson]

Selling mostly imports...

Wrong ............. not even close.

Look at there stuff , some is the same as Snap On ,and even some that is different, is made in the same plant as snappy in the USA.

Home page
http://www.jhwilliamstoolgroup.com/Content/16.htm


Online catalog
http://digimag.rrd.com/JHWilliams317/

They operate very similar to Snap On except they are an industrial supplier.
They do sell the Bahco stuff and the cheaper line of tools ( Blue Point ) just like Snap on.

They also still have there regular hardline..............just like Snap On.

The foreign made tools are because Snappy is calling the shots as they didn't have them before they were bought out years ago.

From there catalog " Quality tools for industry since 1882 "

 

[Teken]

Bart,

I always appreciate your insight, and the valuable information you share with the GJ community!

 

[Theo]

Selling mostly imports...

Actually they sell mostly Made in the USA stuff. They offer a lot of Imported tools now, but they don;t sell as much of it as you'd think.

Up until Aug 09 I worked for Snap-on as the Area Sales Manager for JHWTG in Ontario, Canada. I have a pretty decent idea what they've been up to for the past while.

Anyway JHW first filed a patent in 1881, started the company in 1882. Might not be the oldest company, but they're pretty old.

 

[Dale B]

Tool makers Billings and Spencer started in 1869

 

[Marlin]

The Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company and the Rand Drill Company merged in 1905 to form Ingersoll Rand.